"Under the terms of the break-up Microsoft will retain ownership of the Halo intellectual property, but it will only be guaranteed as the publisher of the series, along with any upcoming Bungie titles in the forseeable future."

This basically says that MS owns Halo, and it will be the publisher of all Bungie stuff!!!

That's hardly a breakup, it sounds to me that Bungie will be doing all the work and MS will be raking-in most of the profits.

Well, popularity doesn't make a great title. Originality and extendability make a great game. HALO might be the latest flavor now but it just doesn't have the right qualities to hang on past the inevitable imitatores (read Quake). HALO is fun for a roll now but not something to bet on for long term development as long as Microsoft has the reins.

Personally, I rejected HALO the day Bungie screwed Steve Jobs over after he made the big announcment at MACWORLD about it. Then, we didn't see a Mac version for two years. Old stuff by then, I felt like I had already played the da*n game and grown tired of it.

No one will be playing a game like HALO in a few years. It's linked to the xbox and probably will remain so. It is going to simply have too many derivative titles using that engine in the coming years. Myth II is still being played because it's not just the latest flashy 3D graphics with a shootum up plot, it's not something that must exist within a world that must have an enclosed infrastructure like HALO and WoW, it's not a resource gathering game, and it's not just a linear storyline based environment. Not to mention the plug in architecture that allowed players to develop mods and add ons.

Myth is a great game even in a time when it is not the latest, most popular game. Just like alot of 80s arcade games are still popular. That's what I judge a great game by. Quake was great when I first started playing it but now? Meh. Those guys can't even give the thing away.

I suppose Bungie is feeling more liek Bung Hole now.

They're not really separate from the yoke of MS and they have nothing new and inovative to show otherwise for what, at least two years maybe?

And they were cast out after the big HALO 3 release. Add injury to insult for their time with MS.

Let Apple buy um and develop for the iPhone!

[QUOTE] Meanwhile, two Blizzard WoW expansions later Bungie decides to be a real game developer again.

Sorry Bungie, you signed a deal with the Devil. HALO for all it's worth is nothing more than a lame Xbox title for the kiddies on it's way to the bargain bin, Myth II is a distant, sad memory and Blizzard is your new daddy.

Ya'll are a half decade late and a few dollars short.Good luck. [/QUOTE]

Wow... way to show your Apple fanboyism AND utter lack of understanding of Bungie's contribution to gaming in general. Bargain bin? Sure, someday. In the meantime, I doubt they'll ever be a few dollars short.

Bungie can write their own ticket. They have a solid track record, a staff 100s of times what they used to have, and money to burn. And now they can develop for multiple consoles AND OSes.

And I am sure that if they are going to start a new property, they will likely start with a new engine as well, or at least a heavily tweaked one. h***, there's nothing saying they are even interested in doing another first-person shooter. I predict future titles will head to the Mac at the same time as the PC. The founders of Bungie still love the Mac, they just made the prudent business decision to make games that Mac and PC users can play... on an Xbox. To some the Mac may be a cult, and leaving it essentially an act of mutiny, but if I were developing GAMES and trying to feed my family with what I made doing it, I would look for opportunities that allowed me to do that with as little risk as possible to my income. Developing for MS certainly fits the bill. I don't blame them at all... and honestly, if you're a TRUE gamer, the Mac isn't the platform to be a zealot from. Kind of like being a racecar enthusiast driving a Saturn. I would imagine just about any game developer would love to have access to the resources and finances developing a major console title for Microsoft provides.

I normally AM the fanboy, but some of you seem so set on being bitter towards Bungie, it's obvious you actually missed having them around more than your written comments suggest.

Anyway, anyone suggesting Bungie isn't a "real" game developer might want to look into the online gaming experience they provide over Xbox Live. The stats/tracking Halo 3 does for each player is not only unprecedented, but it is unprecedented by a huge margin from the next closest competitors.

Plus, I'm not really sure developing more of the game (Blizzard) is a great yardstick to put against Bungie to show how they don't measure up. At least Bungie has changed up the style of game they make several times over their corporate lifetime. Aside from very very early work, hasn't Blizzard made its career based on games viewed from overhead and "click here to go there."? And I LOVE the Blizzard games, don't get me wrong. But they don't have a lot more diversity than Bungie does in their portfolio: Warcra

Warcraft/Starcraft (Same game, different settings), Diablos (same viewpoint, more clicking), and WoW. (WoW is sweet. But aside from being online multiplayer, it's not exactly a new idea. It's just very well done. Kinda like Halo 1/2/3: an old idea done very well.)

Anyway, I'm sure Bungie won't be crying on anyone's shoulder. In fact, I bet there's some champagne being enjoying in Redmond this week at the Bungie offices. Halo got them on the map, and now they can develop exactly what they want how they want. The mothership can't say, "More Halo! More Halo!" I'm sure they don't need any sympathy from anyone, in fact.

Congrats on your freedom Bungie. Welcome to the rest of the gaming world. I think you'll like it here. Your bank account definitely will...

"..along with any upcoming Bungie titles in the forseeable future."

Hosed.

I know I might not be the brightest bulb in this chat. Bust can someone explain to me how this is a breakup when MS owns publishing rights for "any upcoming Bungie titles in the forseeable future"

Just so it's clear, by the way:

Bungie asked to be released from Microsoft. This is not a case of being thrown out. Those pointing and laughing at their misfortune might want to know the facts before they look like a jacka** for doing so.

Again, Bungie wanted to be able to go do what they want, like they used to. Microsoft gave them the leg up that they can now. Everyone wins. And, for those not following Bungie news, Bungie is already deep into its next title, which was probably waiting for this news to go official before they announce it. Between their coffers & royalties from Halos 1/2/3, they will be able to get by until the next release, I'm sure of it.

And if not, Halo 1 and 2 with upgraded graphics and maybe a few 1.5 story levels to bide them over will likely go over with Microsoft just fine. :-)

So if Bungie makes HALO for the Mac, maybe we'll see...

(wait for it...)

The HALO halo effect?

(sorry - had to.)

"Bungie, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2000, will still have a strong relationship with Microsoft, as the software giant will hold a minority equity interest.

“This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally in our mission to create world-class games,” said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. “We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft’s platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios, and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through ‘Halo’ and beyond.”

A statement about the move added that Bungie and Microsoft will continue to expand their partnership to include new IP “created and owned by Bungie.”

Bungie’s latest hit was Halo 3, released September 25 in the US. Microsoft said this week that it generated $300 million in worldwide sales in its opening week, breaking sales records.

Bungie founder and partner Jason Jones likened the situation to living the life aquatic. “Working with Microsoft was great for us, it allowed us to grow as a team and make the ambitious, blockbuster games we all wanted to work on. And they will continue to be a great partner. But Bungie is like a shark. We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees.”

Bungie, which was founded in 1991, will remain in Kirkland, Wash."

Clearly this is going to allow Bungie to branch out. They aren't being booted from Xbox, they just are no longer obligated to be exclusive. Halo, I'm sure, will remain with Microsoft at their intellectual property. Again, I don't think it's a coincidence that Bungie did nothing but produce the Halo series for MS and now is moving on. They didn't want to give up any more IP to them than their contract obligated them to. Heck, this may have been the plan all along.

"popularity doesn't make a great title. Originality and extendability make a great game.

I could not agree more to that statement.

jmelrose: take your essays to wiki or something. Better still, start your own blog, I see great potential in you.

Microsoft bought the leading 3D/animation company SOFTIMAGE in 1994 and sold it to Avid four years later. Now Bungie. I explain this phenomenon here:

"Bungie: Creative ’sharks’ can’t survive at Microsoft" http://counternotions.com/2007/10/05/bungie-creative-sharks-cant-survive-at-microsoft/

"But Bungie is like a shark. We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees.”

I'd rather be an intelligent, fun-loving dolphin than a mindless killing machine any time. Bungie, there was a time when I'd follow you to the ends of the earth, but not where you went.